Dec200927

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Boxing Day dinner at friend

It was Boxing Day yesterday, a day for shoppers to enjoy all the big sales all over. Most shops give huge discounts. I remember one year we tried to join in the fun early in the morning. We thought that 8 a.m. was early until we found that people were already there queuing up before 7am!

The shopping itself can be quite fun but the long queue to pay was a nightmare. I just didn’t have the patience for that, so that was my last Boxing Day shopping. I would rather sit in a cafe and enjoy a cup of hot mocha.

Fried rice

We had fried rice for lunch. It was simple, easy and very quick to cook, yet very delicious. I added lots of vegetables to it.

Dinner was at my friend’s place. She and her husband cooked everything for us; 4 families altogether. It was all Chinese food and took them the whole day to prepare! They were all very, very delicious, particularly the following 3 dishes.

A plateful of food at the dinner

This dish is over-fried long beans. These type of long beans are very delicious and very different from the normal green beans. They are not easily available here. I only see them occasionally at the Chinese supermarket. They were fried in oil until very soft. The taste was absolutely beautiful.

Over-fried long beans

This dish here is fan-fried dumplings. When I arrived my friends were still making them but sadly I forgot to bring my camera. My children then went back to help me get it but by the time they returned, everything was done. I was very fascinated by the way they made them and fried them. These dumplings were very delicious. The filling was eggs, vermicelli and vegetables. I really hope to learn how to make these. These are very time-consuming to make.

Pan-fried vegetarian dumplings

These are deep fried tofu-prawn balls. The texture and taste was fabulous. This is the first time I ate them. I was so impressed at everyone being able to pick up these small delicacies with their chopsticks. I failed at every attempt! Finally my friend gave me a fork…what a relief!

Tofu prawn balls

After all these lovely food, we were served a hot, sweet, mixed beans desserts which was really superb. So sorry I forgot to take a photo of it. Again, I really hope to learn it. And a Chinese meal is never complete without Chinese tea. That was very refreshing. It was a very special Chinese tea that left a very refreshing after taste.

Then there were some very funny and interesting games on top of reading Chinese poems and proverbs competition.

I must say this is the best Boxing Day that I have ever had…..real happy hours. Every one of us enjoyed it very much. I’m just so thankful to my friend and her husband and daughter for inviting us for such a lovely evening of fun and food. Food and friends are just inseparable.

How is your Boxing Day? Do you attend any home parties? What do you have at the parties? Please share, add and comment in the comment box below.

Quote of the day……

”The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

I’ve learnt a new phrase from you with this post. Haven’t heard of ‘Boxing Day’ before. During the days before each festival, all shopping malls are so crowded here in Turkey, but we don’t have a boxing day. As a person who don’t love shopping, I would do the same, drink something and enjoy rather than waiting in a long queue.
all these dishes look so appealing. It sounds like you had a real feast there.You are lucky to have those friends. I love especially that fried long beans. I would eat them with a bowl of yogurt near it.

wareaglejoy on December 27th, 2009

What a feast! That Fried Rice looks so very delicious! Please share your recipe and instuctions! The picture is so beautiful, I can just taste it! Thanks so much for sharing with us.

@Divina - Similarly we don’t have BOxing Day in Malaysia. Only learned about it when I came here. My invitation to you is always open We will have more food and more fun with you here.

@zerrin - I believe at this time, there’s lots of activities and celebration in Turkey. Yes, I’m very thankful for lots of wonderful friends around and we gather together very often. Learned something new from you….eat vegetables with yoghurt! That sounds great. I’m going to try that.

@Kristy - Hahaha…you are very right to say that! Most beautiful of all is that the food are all so different from mine. I was fascinated but liked every dish. Indeed, I enjoyed it very much. It’s always wonderful to learn of other cultures and food. Yet to master the chopsticks